The Aurora University softball team hosted the Eagles of Benedictine University on Monday afternoon for each team's last regular season action of the 2024 season on AU's senior day. The Spartan offense amassed a total of 22 runs between the two games, winning game one by a score of 9-4 and game two 13-4 in five innings. In between game's one and two, AU would honor the 2024 senior class in front of a large and energetic crowd at Bedorsian Stadium.


Game One Score: Aurora University 9, Benedictine University 4
Game Two Score: Aurora University 13, Benedictine University 4 - 5 innings
Record: Aurora University 30-9 overall and 18-6 NACC; Benedictine University 24-16 and 14-10 NACC
Location: Bedrosian Stadium - Montgomery, Illinois


GAME ONE:
- Benedictine scored the game's first two runs in the top of the first to grab a 2-0 lead.
- The Eagles added two more in the second for a 4-0 advantage over the Spartans.
- AU answered back with four of their own in the bottom of the second, starting with Casey Brennan scoring off a Benedictine error.
- Aubrey Ortiz singled through the left side to bring around Isabel Morales to make it 4-2 in favor of the Eagles.
- Later in the second, Kionna King tied the score at four with a two-run single that brought home Alex Thiel and Ortiz.
- AU took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the third when Arianna Anderson came across home on a Thiel ground out.
- The Spartans put up another four runs in the fourth beginning with a Faith Biggs RBI triple.
- The very next batter King continued her strong offensive day with an run scoring single.
- Brennan hit a shot out to left field later in the fourth for a two-run homer to extend the AU lead to 9-4.
- The Eagles saw a runner in scoring position looking to cut into the AU lead in the top of the sixth, but Rylee Campbell picked up three-straight fly outs to keep Benedictine locked at four.
- Campbell would hold off the Eagles in the seventh for the complete game in the 9-4 game one victory for AU.

GAME TWO:
- Brennan followed up her two-run home run in game one with a grand slam in the bottom of the first of game two, giving AU an early 4-0 lead after an inning of play.
- After giving up a hit in the first inning, AU starter Madelyn Buske did not allow a Benedictine hitter to reach base through the next three innings.
- Back-to-back RBI singles from Thiel and Ortiz in the fourth gave AU a 6-0 lead.
- A couple of batters later, King hit a shot out to right center for a bases clearing triple and 9-0 AU advantage. 
- Emma Lytton joined the hit parade in the fourth with an RBI single for a 10-0 AU lead.
- The Spartans increased that lead to 13-0 by the end of the fourth.
- The Eagles scored four runs in the top of the fifth, but it was not enough in the 13-4 AU victory in five innings.
- Buske would finish with the complete game in five innings in the circle for the Spartans.


GAME ONE:
HITTING
HITS:  Aubrey Ortiz, Kionna King and Casey Brennan (2)
DOUBLE: Tyler Chambers and Jordan Seyfried (1)
TRIPLE: Faith Biggs (1)
HOME RUN: Casey Brennan (1)
RUNS: Casey Brennan (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Kionna King (3) and Casey Brennan (2)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Rylee Campbell (7.0)
DECISIONS: Rylee Campbell (win, 16-4)
STRIKEOUTS: Rylee Campbell (3)

GAME TWO:
HITTING
HITS: Casey Brennan (2)
DOUBLE: Emma Lytton (1)
TRIPLE: Kionna King (1)
HOME RUN: Casey Brennan (1)
RUNS: Casey Brennan (3) and Faith Biggs (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Casey Brennan (4) and Kionna King (3)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Madelyn Buske (7.0)
DECISIONS: Madelyn Buske (loss, 13-5)
STRIKEOUTS: Madelyn Buske (3)